Hi fellows-as the title, I was curious how hard it is swap the old for a new. I heard that drilling is required. Is this necessary? Any advice for a novice mechanic?

 

It's easy to do. You don't have to drill the rivets out...I wrapped my old coil up in a towel, stepped on it to stabilize it (I'm too cheap to buy a vice), and knocked the heads of the rivets off with a chisel. Quick and easy.

 

Easy ++. I used a Dremel to take the rivets off. Of course your's will be a dual connector (ie MSD 8226) rather than a single connector coil.
http://www.97ta.com/msd_ignition_coil.shtml

 

Or you can use a dremel tool and cutting wheel to knock off the heads of the rivets.

 

I grinded the rivets and then hammered them out.

 

ditto